Electrical connecter for spark plugs



J. SERGE ET AL ELECTRICAL CONNECTER FOR SPARK PLUGS Dec. 4 1923.,

2 sneet-sheet 1 Filed April 11 1919 31mm s (Ima Dec. 4 1923. 1,475,928

r J. BERGE ET AL ELECTRICAL CONNEC'I'ER FOR SPARK PLUGS Filed Apri l ll1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII L 9;,{0/07 /1072/III/Arm!!! Ill aucmmup Patented Dec. a, 1923.

teem

@FFWE.

JOSEPH BERGE AND LOUIS B. BERG-E, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOBS TO A. C.SPARK PLUG COMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER FOR SPARK PLUGS.

Application filed April 11, 1919. Serial No. 289,269.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Josnrrr BERGE and LoUIs B. Bones, both citizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Flint, in the 6 county ofGenesee and State of Michi an,

have invented certain new and useful mprovements in ElectricalConnecters for Spark Plugs, of which the followin is a specification,reference being had t erein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to electrical connecters particularly designed foruse in connection with spark plugs and the invention consists in theconstruction of the coupling as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a spark plug showing the connecter inengagement therewith;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the coupling members detached;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing th engagement ofthe connecter with the plug terminal;

Figure 4 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showingan alternative form of the invention;

Figur 5 is a view in side elevation of another form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fi re 5.

Describing first the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and. 3, A is aspark plu having the insulator B and an electrode projecting from thouter end of said insulator to form a terminal post. This post isprovided with a groove C and with a tapered or rounded outer end C D isthe insulated conductor for the terminal connecter, and E is a couplingat the end of said conductor for engaging the post C.

In order that the conductor D may be arranged in axial alignment withthe spark plug the coupling E is in the form of a resilient socketmember which may be sleeved over the post C and will be yieldably heldfrom disengagement therefrom. We have therefore,-devised a simpleconstructlon of such a coupling as follows: F and F are segmentalmembers, preferably stampings, which are adapted to embrace theinsulation on the conductor D on opposite sides thereof. These membersare formed with a shoulder G and a portion H extending forwardlytherefrom of slightly smaller diameter and substantially correspondinginternally to the external diameter of the post I is a ferrule memberfor fittin over the shank ends of the members F an F to clamp the sameagainst the insulation of the conductor D, and I is an inturned flan eon the ferrule for engaging the shoulder To mount the coupling upontheconductor a portion J of the stranded metallic conductor is bared of theinsulation and is divided and then turned backward over the outersurface of the insulation, and preferably upon diametricall oppositesides thereof. The members E and F are then placed against thereturn-bent ends of the bared portions J, after which the ferrule I isengaged with the outer ends of said members and pressed on the shanksthereof so as to force the same inward against the insulation withconsiderable pressure. This will cause the imbedding of the conductor Jin the insulation and will compress the latter so that the ferrule issubstantially flush with the surface of the insulation beyond the same.The members F and F are also provided with prongs K at the inner ends ofthe shanks, which are pressed into the insulation and form a. lockingengagement therewith. Thus the coupling when assembled will be firmlyattached to the insulated conductor and will be in good electricalconnection with the metallic conductor thereof. The members F and F arefurther provided with inwardly pressed portions L which are so locatedthat when the coupling is sleeved upon the post 0, the projections Lwill engage with the oove C. To positively prevent accidentalisengagement of the ferrule I from the coupling, said ferrule may beformed with a pair (if inwardly deflected tongues L which when the partsare assembled, will shape into apertures L respectively formed in theshank portions of the coupling. Thus, the

ferrule will be effectively locked against removal.

With the construction as described, in use the connecter may be quicklyattached to or detached from the plug by telescopically engaging thecoupling with the post C. The inwardly extending portions L in passingover the outer end of the post will expand the socket, but this ispermitted by the yieldable character of the insulation to which theshanks of the members F and F are clamped. Also the resiliency of thisinsulation Wlll cause the portions L to snap into engagement with thegroove C and therefore to hold the coupling from accidentaldisengagement. Thus a resiliently expansible socket coupling is formedWithout any flexing of the metallic members thereof, which, on accountof the curved cross-section, would be difficult to accomplish' Theconstruction is also one which is exceedingly inexpensive to manufactureand which may be quickly assembled.

The form of the invention disclosed in Figure l is quite similar to theconstruction already described, the only difi'erence being that thecoupling member is of an elbow form, having a ninety degree bend,whereby the conductor may lead laterally to the spark plug instead ofhaving an axial relation thereto.

In the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the two coupling members Mhave complementary cylindrical portions M for engaging the terminal postN of a spark plug, the axis of the portions M being transverse to thatof the coupling itself so that the latter may engage a conductor 0laterally approaching the spark plug. construction the ferrule R, sinceit cannot be passed over the portions M of the coupling, must be slippedon the conductor 0 prior to engaging the members M therewith and isshifted toward the adjacent end of the conductor to engage it with themembers M. The ferrule R, in this form of the invention, is preferablyformed of fiber and has the internal shoulder R to engage the ends ofthe coupling members M.

In this What we claim as our invention is 1. In an electrical connecter,the combination with a conductor having an elastic insulation, of anexpansible socket coupling member at the end of said conductor,electrically connected with said conductor and comprising substantiallynon-flexible segments overlapping the end of the insulation, and meansclamping said segments upon said insulation, relative yielding of thesegments being provided for by the elasticity of the insulation.

2. In an electrical connecter, the combination with an insulatedconductor, of a pair of complementary segments having shank portionsoverlapping the end of the insulation, the opposite ends of saidsegments forming an expansible tubular socket, said segments being of acontour to produce rigidity throughout their lengths, and means forclamping said shank portions upon the insulation of said conductor,relative yielding of the segments being provided for by the resiliencyof the insulation.

3. In an electrical connecter, the combination with a conductor havingelastic insulation, of a tubular member comprising separatecomplementary segments transversely curved throughout their lengths, andmeans for clamping said segments upon the insula- 1 tion of saidconductor, one end of said tubular member overlapping and being securedby said means to the insulation of said conductor and the other endforming an expansible socket.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

JOSEPH BERGE. LOUIS B. BERGE.

